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The City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia, at sunset

No. 62 Top 100 City Destinations 2025

Valencia

Spain

Spain's sunny third city: futuristic architecture, a Gothic old town, beaches and the home of paella.

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Photo: O Palsson, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Valencia is No. 62 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. Spain's third-largest city lies on the Mediterranean coast and is the birthplace of paella.

Its old town has a Gothic cathedral and silk exchange, while a former riverbed has become a long garden leading to the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences. City beaches and the Albufera lagoon are close by.

Plaza de la Virgen and Valencia Cathedral at night
Plaza de la Virgen and Valencia Cathedral at night. Photo: Falk2, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Best time to go

April to June and September to October are warm and sunny. Las Fallas, from 15 to 19 March, fills the streets with giant figures, fireworks and crowds.

July and August are hot and humid. Winters are mild.

Top sights

  • 1

    City of Arts and Sciences

    Santiago Calatrava's complex of white buildings and pools includes a science museum, an opera house and Europe's largest aquarium, the Oceanogràfic.

  • 2

    Turia Gardens

    A park about 9 km long in the old bed of the Turia river, ideal for walking and cycling.

  • 3

    Valencia Cathedral

    The cathedral holds a chalice venerated as the Holy Grail; climb the Miguelete bell tower for views.

  • 4

    La Lonja de la Seda

    The Gothic silk exchange, with its forest of twisted columns, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  • 5

    Central Market

    One of Europe's largest fresh-food markets, in a Modernista building.

  • 6

    Beaches

    Malvarrosa and neighbouring beaches are a short tram ride from the centre.

  • 7

    Albufera

    A lagoon and rice fields south of the city, where paella originated; take a boat at sunset.

Getting there

Valencia Airport (VLC) is about 8 km west of the centre and is on metro lines 3 and 5.

High-speed trains from Madrid reach Valencia Joaquín Sorolla station in about 2 hours.

Getting around

Metrovalencia runs the metro and trams, including the tram to the beaches, and EMT runs the buses.

Valencia is flat, and Valenbisi bikes and the Turia Gardens make cycling easy.

Practical tips

Currency
Euro (EUR). Cards, including contactless, are accepted almost everywhere.
Language
Spanish and Valencian. English is spoken in tourist areas.
Safety
Valencia is generally safe; watch for pickpockets in crowds, especially during Las Fallas. The emergency number is 112.
Visa & entry
Spain is in the Schengen Area. Many visitors, including citizens of the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) now records non-EU travellers' entries and exits at the border, and the ETIAS travel authorisation is due to follow. Check the official EU site travel-europe.europa.eu and your own government's travel advice before you go.
Power
230 V, 50 Hz; plug types C and F.

Official information: Visit València (official tourism website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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